The Dos and Don’ts for Photography While on Family Vacation - Advice for Successful Vacation Photography
For many of us, going on vacation is a welcomed chance to break out of the routine, see someplace new and be inspired. It also includes valuable time to spend together as a family. And as photographers, our heads start to spin about how to fit in all the potential photographic opportunities that abound in the destination! Imagine the possibilities to try something new in totally new locations!
But beware…this is a family vacation, not a photo excursion. Everyone has expectations, wants, and desires from this trip. You can still get some great shots, but you have to be smart about it and find balance.
That’s what I’m hoping to outline in this blog. How to prepare for the family trip, keep your photography in mind, and keep everyone happy. Enjoy the list of “Dos and Don’ts” below and let me know what you think in the comments section at the end. Thanks!
DON’T – - Pack every piece of camera gear you own.
It’s exciting to go someplace new, but you need to be realistic. Knowing where you’re going, think about what kind of shots will be the priority. I limit myself to two lenses. A good faithful midrange lens, like a 24mm-70mm, and then one specialty lens. This could be a super wide angle, macro or zoom. For me it was the big zoom because I wanted to try some birding.
DON’T – - Do activities that only benefit your photography.
Again, this is a family vacation, and you can’t go off adventuring by yourself. The rule of happy spouse, happy house still applies. Here are some examples:
Helicopter tours – While zooming over mountains hanging out the door of a helicopter hundreds of feet in the air may seem like a thrill to you, it will not seem so enticing to everyone. Not only will some family members bow out of this one, let them convince you that maybe it’s not the safest thing either and they want you around for a few more years.
Boat tours – While a boat tour may offer a new perspective or an opportunity to get closer to some wildlife or a landscape, remember that not everyone was made for the rolling seas. Spending the day nauseous and dizzy is probably not on the vacation agenda.
Long hikes – It’s great to move about and explore the new terrain of your destination. But do so in moderation. The family didn’t come on vacation to play survivor. Keep hikes to a level where everyone can enjoy them, and you still get to see some cool things.
DON’T – - Only look for your style of photography.
Don’t limit yourself to a specific type, style or genre of photography. While at home you may be a landscape, wildlife or street photographer, but on vacation you should challenge yourself to see other opportunities. Take advantage of being in a new location and try some different techniques. This will also increase your photo opportunities as most vacations give you the opportunity to try many different genres including landscape, wildlife, street, architecture, abstract, flower or even traditional travel photography.
DO – - Invest in a good camera backpack.
This could be a whole separate article in itself. But look for one that has lots of adjustable compartments and can fit all the gear that you might travel with. Not ALL your gear. Make sure there are plenty of pockets and compartments for accessories and non-camera items that you might also pack like food, extra clothing, etc. This can also serve as your additional carry-on and keep it under your feet during the flight. I have room for all my travel essentials in this bag as well such as snacks, wallet, phone, chargers, sunglasses, all that type of stuff.
DO – - Pack all your travel photo gear in your camera backpack.
This is more important than my clothes. I always keep my pack with me, it never leaves my side. It goes through security with me. It goes on the plane as one of my carry-ons. Keep it near you, keep it safe.
DO – - Invest in a small, but sturdy, carbon fiber travel tripod that will fit in your suitcase.
Again, I could write a whole separate article on travel tripods. But for now, just consider these items. This is the one piece of photography equipment that I let travel in a suitcase; checked, or carry on. If you’re traveling light with only a carry-on, then make sure that this tripod will fit! The two most important dimensions are length when folded and width when folded. Length must fit in your specific suitcase, so be sure to measure this beforehand. And width is important because you still need to pack clothes around it. A small width is the main reason why I bought my Sirui AM-284. Because it doesn’t have a center column, it’s diameter when folded is much smaller.
For more on this tripod and Sirui products, click here: https://store.sirui.com/
DO – - Remember a few essential accessories.
Even though I told you not to pack every piece of camera gear you own, there may be some circumstances where you need a little help from an accessory. There are a few that come to mind and they don’t take up much space either:
Tripod - You already have your travel tripod in the suitcase. Check.
Ball head – Duh. The ball head for your tripod. May have to detach it for packing.
Extra battery. Check.
Circular Polarizer filter for one of the lenses you’re bringing.
Neutral density filter for one of the lenses that you’re bringing. (Probably a 10-stop if you have one)
Extra memory cards – or a device to save image files on
Lens cloth
DO – - Remember these supporting players!
Battery charger!
Transfer cable if you’re moving image files from camera to storage.
Allen wrench – if you have an L-Bracket on your camera body, bring the Allen wrench so you can adjust it if needed. Maybe for your tripod too if it requires one for any adjustments.
DO – - Research your activities beforehand for gear safety.
So many fun vacation activities involve water and the ocean. However, camera equipment does not like water or the ocean. Research what it would be like to have your photography gear in tow and evaluate what the risk will be to your equipment. Here are three examples:
65-Foot Power Catamaran Tour – This was a half day boat tour in Kauai that cruised the Napali Coast and offered snorkeling off the island of Niihau. Definitely full of photo opportunities! But it’s a boat, on the ocean, with potential choppy waters. Turns out the boat had a large cabin area to stow your gear for safe keeping. And we were free to walk about the boat so moving around to get great photos was no issue.
Kayaking – Anywhere. I have been on some great guided kayak tours. Some were even made of see-through material! And you can see a lot of great wildlife from a kayak. But I’d never bring the big gear out in one. Everything gets wet. You drip water everywhere. You’re totally at water level. There are dry bags, but that’s a lot to balance (literally) and not very efficient if you need to dig your camera out, hope you get the shot, and then stow it back nice and safe. If we do any kayaking, I’m just bringing the iPhone.
Hiking in Kauai – Or any hiking really, but especially in Hawaii. It could rain at any moment. And by rain, it could be a downpour. These types of places aren’t lush and full of rainbows for nothing. I make sure that all my gear fits in my backpack. The exception is the tripod, that can travel outside the bag, usually strapped on the side. And then, if you got a good camera backpack, it should have a rain cover. Make sure you remember the rain cover!
DO – - Be efficient.
This is by necessity when the family is along. It requires that you be prepared and pre-plan potential shooting scenarios in your head. Hiking for example. The family is there to hike and enjoy the scenery. They may stop for a bit to take it in…but they are not going to stop for 45 minutes so you can get the perfect shot. This is a big one. The burden is on you. You carry the equipment. You ‘photograph’ scenes in your head first. You compose images quickly as you go. This one is not perfect, but it’s a compromise. Remember, photography is secondary to everyone’s experience. Ouch. This is a tough one, but it needs to be said.
DO – - Quietly take the camera with you as often as you can.
The best times are when we’re doing a moderate walk or exploring a town and I just happen to have my camera along. Expectations are low and I feel casual. My mind is free to wander and I often snap some great images as we go. Being on vacation, I’m already in ‘super composition mode’ anyway so I can quietly do my thing as we go and still be part of the family group. Use the small camera bag as noted below.
DO – - Take a small camera bag as well.
Something that just fits your camera body and the mid-range zoom lens. Maybe a few small pockets for an extra battery. This is a small bag that you can throw over your shoulder. This way you can have your camera and travel a little lighter and a little more inconspicuous.
DO – - Be Patient.
Photography on the family vacation can be fun, but like life it’s a compromise. Examples:
You don’t need to shoot every sunset. Leave the camera behind sometimes and just enjoy the moment.
Perfect light. You will see really cool light while driving to a scheduled activity or on the way to the airport. You want to shoot it but it’s not going to happen. Just show the kids how cool it is and let them take it in.
Perfect shot. You’re going to ‘see’ the best composition but wouldn’t be able to get to it. There could be crowds in front of the tank at the aquarium. Or the perfect angle is down a dangerous trail that no one is going to go on. Get over it. There will be missed shots along the way. But there will be great ones too. You’re not going to get them all.
Surprise! Your family might surprise you when your young son or daughter sees something and says, “Dad! Look, wouldn’t that be a neat picture?” Embrace the moment of involvement.
Vacationing with the family anywhere, anytime with the camera will always be a balance. Keep your photographic dreams alive but don’t let them take over family time. Know that you’ll get some great shots and miss others. Rise up to the challenge of trying new things and prepare as much as you can so you’ll be ready but also efficient. And remember, everyone wants to enjoy the adventure!
Let me know if you have any additional ‘golden rules’ to add in the comments section below.
Thanks for checking in!
